The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

SECTION XXIV

Vaisampayana said, “Once more the great sage
Krishna-Dwaipayana said these words unto Ajatasatru,
the son of Kunti: ’Let these great car-warriors
of abundant energy of mind, O monarch, let these brothers
of thine, O Yudhishthira, the chief of the Bharatas,
obtain those wishes of theirs that they cherished
while dwelling in the woods. Rule thou the earth,
O son of Pritha, like (another) Yayati, the son of
Nahusha. Before now misery was yours while ye
dwelt in the woods in the observance of ascetic penances.
That misery is ended, O tiger among men! Enjoy
happiness, therefore, for some time. Having O
Bharata, earned and enjoyed religious merit and wealth
and pleasure for some time with thy brothers, thou
mayst then, O king, retire into the woods. Be
freed first, O Bharata, from the debt thou owest to
persons that may beg of thee, to the Pitris, and to
the gods. Thou mayst then, O son of Kunti, practise
all the other modes of life (that come afterwards).
Do thou, O son of Kuru’s race, perform the sacrifices
of Sarvamedha and Aswamedha. Thou shalt then
attain, O monarch, to the highest end hereafter.
Installing thy brothers also in great sacrifices with
plentiful presents (to the Brahmanas), thou shalt,
O son of Pandu, acquire great fame. There is a
saying, O tiger among men and best of the Kurus!
Listen to it, for by acting according to it, O king,
thou shalt not swerve from virtue. Those men only,
O Yudhishthira, whose practices resemble those of
robbers, cause a king by their counsels to take to
a career of war and victory.[70] That king who, guided
by considerations of place and time and moved by an
understanding dependent on the scriptures, pardons
even a number of robbers, incurs no sin. That
king who, realising his tribute of a sixth, doth not
protect his kingdom, taketh a fourth part of the sins
of his kingdom.[71] Listen also to that by which a
king may not swerve from virtue. By transgressing
the scriptures (one incurs sill), while by obeying
them one may live fearlessly. That king who,
guided by an understanding based upon the scriptures
and disregarding lust and wrath, behaves impartially,
like a father, towards all his subjects, never incurs
sin. O thou of great splendour, if a king, afflicted
by destiny, fails to accomplish an act which he should,
such failure would not be called a trespass. By
force and policy should the king put down his foes.
He must not suffer sin to be perpetrated in his kingdom
but should cause virtue to be practised. Brave
men, those that are respectable in their practices,
they that are virtuous in their acts, they that are
possessed of learning, O Yudhishthira, Brahmanas conversant
with Vedic texts and rites, and men of wealth, should
especially be protected. In determining suits
and accomplishing religious acts, they that are possessed
of great learning should alone be employed. A
prudent king will never repose his confidence upon